Obituary: Former Sen. William J. Larkin Jr. Dies At 91

CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON, NY — Former State Senator William J. Larkin Jr., who served his community and country for 75 years, died Aug. 31 at the age of 91. According to his obituary, Larkin was an assemblyman from 1979 to 1990, after which he was elected to the state Senate.

He was born in Troy in 1928 and volunteered for the draft in 1944 at the age of 16. Larkin fought in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II and served in combat in the Korean War.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Kurucz McGuirk Larkin, his children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro said that he was honored to have learned from and served with Larkin.

"But the greatest was the honor we all had in knowing Bill Larkin sacrificed for and served all of us," he said.

"American lost a hero, New York lost a statesman, the Hudson Valley last a sone and advocate and so many lost a mentor, peer and friend," Molinaro said. "He lived a storied and purely American life — courageous and kind, conscientious and decent, full and honorable."

Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus ordered all flags at county buildings to be flown at half-staff Wednesday, Sept. 4 and Thursday, Sept. 5 to honor Larkin.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center in the William and Pat Larkin Education Center, 321 S. William St. in Newburgh.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 at St. Thomas of Canterbury, 340 Hudson St. in Cornwall-on-Hudson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties and Nora Cronin Presentation Academy.

For Larkin's complete obituary, visit the Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home website.

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